NotEinstein

Anybody extended a non-imm O since the new TM30 database was launched last month? I understand there is a huge queue at the TM30 office - are they making everyone get a new printout before processing, or just forcing those that haven't to re-register?

It is quite common for 'recently cleaned' air-cons that then exhibit issues, such as 'turning on on their own' to be due to a trapped cable - there are Thai videos about this on youtube, so the wife tells me. Worth opening and having a good look with this in mind.

prejudiced view - racist! on average 60+ people die on Thai roads every single day - fact! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

While I wouldn't venture out on the roads here on a bicycle, there are many that do, but then, they live here, know the score and are aware accordingly. Check out channel 32 or 34 - there are always examples of horrific Thai driving..........

While nobody is premeditatedly murderous, many motorized road users end up being so, mostly due to poor driver training and attitude. I regularly see groups cycling south along the busy road next to the river with pickups and trucks flying past, and wonder why they think the inhaled pollution and risk to life and limb is worth it.

This is surely quite a common problem, and yet the gutter fitting guys don't offer what would be a very simple and cheap addition for them to install for more profit. Whenever we needed gutter repairs, contacting local guys always ended up with them insisting that they fit a new section, to make it worth their while. I gave up and bought scaffolding......

I use a simless phone on wifi for bangkok bank and barclays, as well as shopee.

I renewed my licence a few months back, taking the Thai version of the online test which had videos of a couple of Thai lads explaining the obvious - there were English subs. The answers to questions after each video were really obvious having paid attention and using google translate. I didn't get any wrong, but a wrong answer would have been indicated. Has the test changed recently from the two guys more interested in eating than getting started and showing poor driving such as only one hand on the wheel and turning to chat with the passenger?

If you are a farang kee nok, you can do as I did and DIY. https://globalhouse.co.th/product/ปืนใหญ่--ตาข่ายสี่เหลี่ยม-SQ221-ตาห่าง-12-นิ้วx90ซม.x10เมตร-i.0722004700228 cut into 3 x 30cm lengths and get up the ladder.....

How did you attempt to call them - landline, mobile, skype, another web-based service?

Never have paid - have been torrenting for 15+ years. I've noticed that the number of seeds has dropped dramatically for non-new stuff on thepiratebay etc. The registered user torrent sites are still going strong though. We prefer to watch non-Hollywood. Korean, Japanese, Chinese, as well as French and other European films have the other cultural angles to make things different enough to not be so formulaic and shallow.

I'm reminded every time we have a fai-dap (a couple of times a month on average) just how fragile this ridiculously complicated system is. Add in all the potential holes in the very many systems involved that hackers are beavering away at and it seems crazy, until I remember who is pushing it.........

I went through the wringer of contacting HM Government about pensions recently. While you can get significantly cheaper call rates with skype (I actually used the 0800 freephone numbers and got transferred, so free), if you don't have a smart phone, the method I used to call cheaply to the correct number for overseas callers was to setup a mytello account https://app.mytello.com/en/ and add the needed number - then you just make what is then a local call to the Bangkok number allocated. The mytello charge is 0.4 baht per minute. Very easy from any phone you register on your account.

I went to Chiang Mai Immigration office a few days ago - none of the staff were wearing masks that I saw and only a handful of Thai ladies on the customer side were masked up.

The SanDisk 32GB Ultra Flair I use is 135 baht..........

https://www.jib.co.th/web/product/product_search/0?str_search=ssd sandisk&cate_id[]=

Horses for courses. I like to keep my systems efficient and cost effective. I take daily database backups to my old-school hard disk based NAS and have some more 32GB Ultra Flairs configured and ready for a failure. Obviously much cheaper than SSDs, which are of a larger capacity.

I use USB sticks as the system disk on my Raspberry Pis. If I keep the usage below 50% they last for 3+ years despite being constantly written to. As others have suggested, use a decent brand from a reputable supplier - I use SanDisk Ultra Flair from JIB as they handle the warranty well.

Went to Imm. for a re-entry permit yesterday. They have a window and queue specifically for re-entry permit requests. I asked about TM30 upon return and was told that if at the same address, no need to do anything. I didn't see any of the staff wearing masks, with just a few Thai ladies client side masked up.

The car dealerships have local arrangements with the car "tents" as the Thais call them. Nowadays they mostly are not in tents. They make every car look perfect, so you have to get under and look for signs of accident damage repair.

This always seemed nefarious to me, after all, if it is supposedly spread by breathing, surely just a breath sample or mouth swab would suffice.

A Tamarind tree, left alone, will grow to a great height and width - much greater than 2x2. What ever you plant, you are going to have to trim it - better to get some of these. These are 3 years old and have been trimmed to keep to this height. There is a tamarind tree to the left. You will see these trees used as a fence on many Thai properties. The wife says they are called Ton Sai Kaolie

"analysed the average monthly Google search volume for different terms relating to retiring abroad." The fact is, the vast majority of those searching will just stay put. This is like stating which model is the UK's favourite car by looking at internet searches..............

Yes, even that brand. Careful with the heat - best do it during early morning as the steel is impossible to hold after 10ish...........

There is nothing wrong with the construction - the camera angle deceives. We have a 40+ year-old house with the same roof. I repaired a few holes (sun light from the inside) that had obviously been there from the build - holes for fixings in the wrong place mostly. PU sealant from the inside sorted those (I wasn't going to clamber on the roof as they get brittle with age), and the more serious holes that dropped water onto the ceiling tiles enough to be seen (luckily not high up) I covered with what the locals use and call gao kee maa (literally dog-<deleted> glue) or PU sealant. The obviously misaligned tile letting in light down it's length can probably be sealed with PU if not a large gap. While up there, I fitted some 4m rolls of silver foil encased fiberglass insulation, which made a hell of a difference to room temperatures, to the point of not needing air-con, apart from maybe April/May this year.